Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-01

The Alleged Fate or Lee Chung Tux,
q Chinese Fisherman.
[san Francisco Alta California;


little Chinese fishing colony that is To-
Gated on the shore OF the arm OF the
bay that stretches between the Potrero
and South San Francisco. The odd
shaped scows and RATS in which
the fishermen pursue their vocation
have been seen skimming around the
bay in an aimless way the plod-
ding clam catcher instead OF plodding
in the mud for the bivalves has put in
the time in running around the beach,
and even extending his travels to the
other side Of ButchertOwn, as il he
were in search of something. At night
twice the ordinary number of tapers
and pnnks have been burned ia the
camp, and the Celestials have been
heard chanting low, monotonous song
that sounded like a death-dirge.
Yesterday the cause Of the move
ments was discovered. lie Chung
Tux, one of the most prosperous
and energetic members of the cOmmu-
nifty, is no more. That he is dead all
his former companions firmly believe
now, though for some days they enter
tanned hopes that he might yet have
escaped the horrible fate which three
of bis friends assert that he met with.
Acting under this impression the
searching parties were instituted. The
circumstances attending his disappear
ance from his haunts and friends are.
according to the statements, sensational
as well as tragical.
Tux was the owner of one Of the
neatcst junks in the colonial fishing
fleet, and had three assistants to help
him in his labors. From the pigeon
English of the Chinese the following
story has been cleaned. Aside from
certain imaginative touches, which the
fears of the Chinese may have caused
them to add to it, the story goes
to show that man eating sharks are not
the only dreaded sea monsters which
are hafbored by the deep waters of the
bay.
On last Sunday evening as the sun
was declining and the mists floating in
from the sea, Tux and his three com
panions hauled out into deep water in
their junk, which, by the way, is called
10y Chinese name which translated
means 1.-The ever-resplendent Queen of
the Ocean, that snaps her fingers at the
devils of the deep" 1t was the object
of the party TO lay their nets 10y night
and have them in readiness by the morn
ing. Some hours were occupied in the
occupation, for however expert Tuk's
"Cueen" was in swapping her fingers
at devils, she was almighty slow in
getting through the water. The moon
was well mp in the sky and cast halo
Of silver light around on the ripping
waves as they swashed against the sides
OF the Junk. Tux was leaning over the
edge of the boat, adjusting some ropes.
In that same moment Tux s companions
SAW huge shiny, sepent-like arm
emerge from the water and Irvine itself
around his middle. A great scream
broke from his lips and died away in a
Sickcning Qurgle as the breath was
forced out OF him by the compression
Of the air. Cries of horror and fright
arose from Tuk's comrades, and
they croucbed low in the boat
and watched Tux struggle in the hOrri-
bile embrace. Their cries were redou-
bed when, almost in the space OF au-
other moment, at least six hideous-
looking arms arose in the air and began
to whirl around like a Windmill on Il
breezy day. The arms or tentacles
thcn commenced to swish around the
boat as if they were feeling for the
other Chinese, who were moaning and
crying with terror Tuk's body was
still wriggling, and a gurgle came from
his throat. Two of the waving arms
were wound around his limbs, binding
them with terrific power. Then
huge, jelly-likc body rose in the water
close by the junk, and by the light of
the moon the terrified Chinese saw the
huge, gaping mouth OF the monster,
and the protruding eyes shot out
greenish CLEAN. A new peril was now
staring the wretched fishermen in the
face. The weight of the monsters
tcntacles, one OF which was clutching
the gunwale fast, was careening the
boat over inch 10y inch. The gunwale
WAS even now almost on level with
the waves, and the shiyering, covering
Chinese would be dropped into the
gaping mouth or into the embrace Of
the tentacles.
Fear mt last seemed to nerve one Of
the Chinese with desperate courage.
he crawled over to where "a large
Ratchet was lying and, Selling it, made
his way to the gunwale. Then, stand
ing up and lodging blow from one Of
The whirling arms, he brought the
sharp edge Of the Ratchet heavily down
upon the clutching tentace. One
stroke, then rapid second. The arm
was severed, and at the same time
gust Of wind struck the boats sail and
drove her a good distance away from the
fish ere it could get another grip. The
three men were safe with streaming
eyes they saw the yet struggling form
of Tux dragged beneath the waters.
Fearing another attack Of the monster
the frightened fishermen got out their
long oars and rowed the junk rs rapidly
ms possible from the place. How they
reached the Potrero shore the men can
hardly remember. They told the tale
to their countrymen, and intense was
tie excitement that followed, and
varied the comments regarding the
strange sea devil which had taken of
Tux. Many Of the latter's friends be-
lieved that Tux had escaped and swan
ashore. Then search was made for his
body in the water and along the beach.
The affair has aroused the superstitious
fears Of the Chinese. They fear that
the monster may visit them again.
The lopped-oif arm was thrown over
board by Tuk's comrade, as they really
believed il was a section of the evil one.
Probably the Queen, ETC., will be
burned as a sacrifice to the devil that
visited her and spirited away her
owner.
If the statements OF the Chinese
fishermen are accurate, the monster
could have been nothing else than an
octopus. These creatures, however,
generally frequent tropical waters, and
it seems strange that one should have
found its way into this bay. The Chi
nese say that q strong odor was appa-
rent when the arm WAS severed. This
is characteristic OF the octopus. Tt is
seldom that anything which the suckers
in the tenacles Of an octopus attach
themselves gets away. so IL looks de-